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RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising gene regulatory approach in functional genomics that has significant impact on crop improvement which permits down-regulation in gene expression with greater precise manner without affecting the expression of other genes. RNAi mechanism is expedited by small molecules of interfering RNA (siRNA & miRNA), mostly 21 or 24 nucleotides in size that repress the expression of sequence homologous genes at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and translational levels effectively. Although the molecular basis of these complicated and interconnected pathways has become clear only in recent years and has been exploited in plants for resistance against pathogens, insect/pest, nematodes, virus and removal of allergenics and poor quality metabolites that cause significant economic losses. This review discusses mechanism of silencing, pathways in plants including post –transcriptional, transcriptional, miRNA, transitive and non-cell-autonomous and roles of RNA silencing in plant improvement.
Keywords: RNAi, siRNA, miRNA, silencing pathway